Keyboard shortcuts, which also known as accelerator keys or hotkeys, are a finite set of one key or a combination of two or more keys that, when pressed, will invoke an operation or perform a task by operating system or application program running within the operating system, or simply activate and run a program. Keyboard shortcuts or hot keys make it easier for user to interact with computer, which otherwise would typically require a mouse or other pointing device to perform the operation.
Winodws 7 includes many new keyboard accelerator keys that make it easier to work with menus and other commands. Normally, the keyboard shortcuts to activate the command are listed along with command in the programs’ menus (typically a letter is underlined to indicate that it can be activated by pressing the combination of Alt key with the underlined key). Some are not listed and hidden though.

Here’s the full list of Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts or accelerator hotkeys available on the operating system level and also for several built-in application programs in Windows 7, as published by Microsoft.

Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

Right Shift for eight seconds: Turn Filter Keys on and off

Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtScn (or PrtScn): Turn High Contrast on or off

Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock: Turn Mouse Keys on or off

Shift five times: Turn Sticky Keys on or off

Num Lock for five seconds: Turn Toggle Keys on or off

Windows logo key + U: Open the Ease of Access Center

General keyboard shortcuts

F1: Display Help

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert): Copy the selected item

Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert): Paste the selected item

Ctrl + Z: Undo an action

Ctrl + Y: Redo an action

Delete (or Ctrl + D): Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin

Shift + Delete: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first

F2: Rename the selected item

Ctrl + Right Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word

Ctrl + Left Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word

Ctrl + Down Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph

Ctrl + Up Arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph

Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key: Select a block of text

Shift + any arrow key: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document

Ctrl + any arrow key + Spacebar: Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop

Ctrl + A: Select all items in a document or window

F3: Search for a file or folder

Alt + Enter: Display properties for the selected item

Alt + F4: Close the active item, or exit the active program

Alt + Spacebar: Open the shortcut menu for the active window

Ctrl + F4: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

Alt + Tab: Switch between open items

Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use the arrow keys to switch between open items

Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Change the size of icons on the desktop

Windows logo key + Tab: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D

Ctrl+ Windows logo key + Tab: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D

Shift + Click on a taskbar button: Open a program or quickly open another instance of a program

Ctrl + Shift + Click on a taskbar button: Open a program as an administrator

Shift + Right-click on a taskbar button: Show the window menu for the program

Shift + Right-click on a grouped taskbar button: Show the window menu for the group

Ctrl + Click on a grouped taskbar button: Cycle through the windows of the group

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

Windows logo key + Plus Sign or Minus Sign: Zoom in or out

Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar: Preview the desktop in full-screen mode

Ctrl + Alt + F: Switch to full-screen mode

Ctrl + Alt + L: Switch to lens mode

Ctrl + Alt + D: Switch to docked mode

Ctrl + Alt + I: Invert colors

Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys: Pan in the direction of the arrow keys

Ctrl + Alt + R: Resize the lens

Windows logo key + Esc: Exit Magnifier

Remote Desktop Connection keyboard shortcuts

Alt + Page Up: Move between programs from left to right.

Alt + Page Down: Move between programs from right to left.

Alt + Insert: Cycle through programs in the order that they were started in.

Alt + Home: Display the Start menu.

Ctrl + Alt + Break: Switch between a window and full screen.

Ctrl + Alt + End: Display the Windows Security dialog box.

Alt + Delete: Display the system menu.

Ctrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) on the numeric keypad: Place a copy of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Alt + PrtScn on a local computer).

Ctrl + Alt + Plus Sign (+) on the numeric keypad: Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing PrtScn on a local computer).

Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow: “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host program (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) program.

Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow: “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host program (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) program.

Paint keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl + N: Create a new picture

Ctrl + O: Open an existing picture

Ctrl + S: Save changes to a picture

F12: Save the picture as a new file

Ctrl + P: Print a picture

Alt + F4: Close a picture and its Paint window

Ctrl + Z: Undo a change

Ctrl + Y: Redo a change

Ctrl + A: Select the entire picture

Ctrl + X: Cut a selection

Ctrl + C: Copy a selection to the Clipboard

Ctrl + V: Paste a selection from the Clipboard

Right Arrow: Move the selection or active shape right by one pixel

Left Arrow: Move the selection or active shape left by one pixel

Down Arrow: Move the selection or active shape down by one pixel

Up Arrow: Move the selection or active shape up by one pixel

Esc: Cancel a selection

Delete: Delete a selection

Ctrl + B: Bold selected text

Ctrl + +: Increase the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel

Ctrl + -: Decrease the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel